Mesothelioma Strikes Military Veterans

Many military veterans are being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other serious diseases caused by asbestos exposure which occurred while serving aboard ships between the 1940s and 1960s. Unfortunately, there were numerous companies during this period that manufactured products for military use that were imbedded with asbestos fibers. Surprisingly, these same companies knew about the long-term health risks associated with asbestos exposure, but chose to disregard the dangers.

All veterans who served aboard ships or worked in shipyards are at risk for mesothelioma. Due to the long latency period associated with mesothelioma, it may take from 20-50 years from initial exposure for symptoms to begin to appear. The same is true for all other asbestos-caused illnesses, both cancerous and non-cancerous. Sadly, this means that veterans who were exposed to asbestos decades ago may still develop mesothelioma or another serious illness in the future.

Veteran Assistance for Mesothelioma

Each state has a Veteran Service Officers network dedicated to assisting veterans and their dependents with filing veteran’s claims relating to a mesothelioma diagnosis. Often, these veteran service officers are located in the county in which the veteran resides, and are responsible for walking them through the process necessary to file for military service-related disabilities.

Up to 90% of the claims received by the Veterans Administration each year are submitted through a County Veteran Service Office. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease, a Veteran Service Officer may be able to assist you with filing a veteran’s claim.

Lawsuits For Veterans Exposes to Asbestos

In addition to Veterans Administration claims, veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma often file a mesothelioma lawsuit. With a mesothelioma lawsuit, veterans may be able collect compensation for expenses such as:

medical bills

lost income

pain and suffering

In order to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, veterans should find a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after being diagnosed. Finding an attorney is imperative because each state has a time limit, called a statute of limitations, restricting how long each individual has to file a mesothelioma claim. The time limit varies from state to state, but it’s usually one to two years from diagnosis.

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If you are a veteran & you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, click here to learn more about filing a legal claim.